Orville Redenbacher brand popcorn has Geauga County connection

Michael Allen Blair/MBlair@News-Herald.com
Farmer Kevin O'Reilly of "Little Ireland Farm" in Parkman Township is currently growing 100 acres of corn to be used for ConAgra, the parent company of Orville Redenbacher

If the late Orville Redenbacher was still around, chances are he’d be mighty proud Kevin O’Reilly grows his popcorn.

The Parkman Township resident and his family members own Little Ireland Farm, which includes about 800 acres in various parts of Geauga County, and right now he uses 100 acres in Parkman Township to grow corn for the popular treat.

O’Reilly is among a select group of farmers chosen by ConAgra Foods, parent company of the Orville Redenbacher brand, to raise the crop.

"We have a number of special relationships with farmers that extend throughout multiple generations," a ConAgra Foods spokesperson said. "We build relationships with farmers we trust, farmers who have both the resources and growing knowledge to consistently deliver great popcorn to our customers and consumers."

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In May,O'Reilly planted special hybrid seeds provided by the company and tracing back to those first developed by Orville Redenbacher himself. The plants which have popped up, are expected to reach about 6 feet tall and planned to be harvested in October.

The corn then will be shipped to a ConAgra Foods facility for processing. Before packaging, it's dried, separated from other particles and polished.

Company representatives claim that the product pops up lighter and fluffier than ordinary popcorn. And plenty of popcorn munchers agree. It’s the top selling snack of its kind in the U.S.

Although O’Reilly has grown corn along with other crops over the years, what piqued the Chardon High graduate’s interest in popcorn was an ad he spotted in a local trade magazine.

After making ConAgra Foods aware of his extensive experience, company reps checked out the Little Ireland operation.

“They do look at (the farmer’s) ability,” O’Reilly said. “They look at someone who can produce what they want.”

Along with carrying the necessary expertise and proper growing conditions, production standards must be met.

All equipment is required to be modern, up-to-date, clean and sanitized.

“We’ll use the same piece of equipment to harvest field corn then it all has to be sanitized when we switch over to food corn,” O’Reilly said. “There can’t be any residue left over. The trucks — everything — must be thoroughly cleaned.”

Company representatives visit the farm monthly to check for sanitary conditions and to inspect the crops to ensure they haven’t been affected by disease or insect infestation.

"During the growing season we work closely with our farmers to understand crop performance and anticipated crop yields," the company spokesperson said. "Constant communication with our farmers is important in order to maintain the high standards we have for our popcorn. We work with them to understand any challenges their crops may face."

And despite efforts expended by the dedicated farmer, there’s no guarantee the corn crop will be purchased.

“If it’s not up to their quality, they don’t have to accept it,” O’Reilly said. “It forces us to work on quality. Everything we do is about how well we can manage the input and the rest is pretty much up to God because he controls the weather. We can do everything by the book but then it’s out of our control.”

O’Reilly first worked with ConAgra Foods in 2013, and if this summer’s crop matches that generated last year, selling shouldn’t be a problem.

About 172 tons were produced and he was paid by the pound (344,000) for all of it. Value is based on the market price set by the Chicago Board of Trades and changes daily.

“I was pleased with the compensation,” O’Reilly said. “Compared to bulk commodities like field corn (used for animal feed), the popcorn was definitely more profitable.”

O’Reilly said he remembers always having a kernel of interest in farming and often held summer jobs on farms around Chardon. After attending Ohio State University he earned a master’s degree in agriculture from Penn State University. Later, he worked as an Ohio State University Extension agent and continued to farm as a hobby until Little Ireland Farm became sufficiently large enough to sustain a livelihood.

“I like the outside work … the challenge of trying to take these elements — weather, the seed and the soil — and put it together and make it grow,” O’Reilly said. “It’s fun to watch it come out of the ground and to develop and know that you’re doing a good job.”